Milk tube dome with flow controller

ABSTRACT

A milker unit liner dome having an inner surface and flow diverters joined to the inner surface to redirect teat dip from an inlet to provide more uniform coverage of dip on a teat. The liner dome can also include more than one flow diverter for redirecting teat dip flow.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/627,240, filed Feb. 20, 2015, which, is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/350,528, filed Jan. 13, 2012, which, is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/215,706, filed Jun.27, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to dairy milker unit liners and moreparticularly to milker unit teat cup liners with internal flow divertersfor distributing teat dip before a milker unit is detached from ananimal being milked.

Milking machines are attached to dairy animals to withdraw and collectmilk. The part of the milking machine that interfaces with the dairyanimal includes an outer shell, called a teat cup, and an interiorliner. A dairy animal's teat is inserted into a top opening in the teatcup and liner for milking. With vacuum hoses connected to thesecomponents, a pulsation is created that withdraws milk from the dairyanimal's teat.

Liners are shaped and sized to maximize animal comfort, and to beefficient and responsive to the vacuum that causes pulsation. Linershave different designs, but all liners or liner assemblies have at leastan upper dome and a barrel extending down from the dome. The linercomponents may be formed in a single unit or the dome and barrel may beseparate pieces. The dome defines an opening through which a dairyanimal's teat is inserted for milking. The dome also includes an outerskirt that fits down over the top of the teat cup to secure the twocomponents together.

In addition to milking the animal, the vacuum also secures the teat cupand liner to the animal's teat during milking. When milking iscompleted, the vacuum is reduced so that the teat cup and liner aredetached from the animal.

To maintain healthy animals and reduce the incidence of harmfulmastitis, teats are treated with antimicrobial cleaners and sealantsknown as teat dips. These teat dips can be applied before milking orafter milking depending on their primary purpose. Teat dips are usuallyapplied by a dairy operator raising a hand-held cup full of teat dipinto contact with the teat and possibly the lower udder or by sprayingthe teats with a hand-held wand.

To reduce manpower and improve animal throughput in a dairy, it isdesirable to automate certain procedures normally performed by dairyoperators. Applying a post-milking teat dip is one such operation thathas been considered for automation.

Teat dip applicators incorporated into a milking machine apply dip to acow's teat and possibly the lower portion of the udder just prior todetachment of the milking machine from the cow. Teat dip is injectedwith pumps or pushed with air pressure through nozzles or small orificesthat are mounted on the corresponding teat cup or formed in the domeportion of the liner. (See for example: US 2006-0112886-A1.) Given sizeand time constraints, a single nozzle aimed at the teat applies teat dipto one side of the teat, but the opposite side is less likely to becovered unless a larger dosage of teat dip is injected.

Multiple nozzles have been proposed in an attempt to provide moreuniform dip application than might be possible with a single nozzle.Multiple nozzles are fed by multiple tubes from a teat dip source orfrom a chamber formed in the liner dome. Given the confined nature ofthe liners within teat cup shells, tubes and chambers must be relativelysmall, and can be subject to clogging. Multiple nozzles also presentincreased manufacturing costs.

Another consideration in any such automated teat dip applicator issafety. Teat dips cannot be mixed with milk. Any system used toautomatically apply a teat dip that is exposed to the inside of a milkerunit liner also exposes the milk to a potential contaminant. As aresult, the liner should be backflushed with water or cleansingsolutions before the next animal is milked. Such backflushing is alsomost efficient and consistent if it is done automatically.

Thus, there is a need for an improved mode for delivering teat dip toupper portions of teats through automated dipping equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes problems associated with teat dipdelivery through small or multiple orifices and nozzles formed inmilking liner domes. The present invention provides more uniformdelivery of teat dip to an upper portion of a teat and/or the lowerportion of a cow udder while reducing the amount of teat dip applied, aswell as the number of nozzles and orifices that might otherwise berequired to obtain substantially uniform teat dip coverage. Further, theliner mouthpiece wipes the teat dip down the teat when the milker unitdrops from the cow at the end of milking.

The present invention is a milker unit liner dome that includes internalflow diverters that simplify teat dip distribution and make linercleaning easier and more thorough. Also, because liners are relativelyinexpensive and are replaced regularly, the flow diverter geometry ofthe liner can be updated without undue expense.

The present invention simplifies distribution of teat dip with a linerdome design that requires no assembly and is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture. Further, dips of various viscosities can be used withreduced clogging.

A milker unit liner in accordance with the present invention includes adome having an opening through which a cow's teat extends duringmilking. When a teat is inserted, a dome chamber is essentially dividedinto an annular space. A liner dome in accordance with the presentinvention has joined to its inner surface a flow diverter such as aramp, channel, vane, ridge, or other shape to direct flow of teat dipand/or cleaning fluid from an inlet to all portions of the teatincluding the side that is opposite the teat dip inlet. A flow diverterin accordance with the present invention improves the flowcharacteristics of dip through the dome as compared to a standard domechamber.

The present invention may include an improved inlet or nozzle in theform of a slit in the liner and acts essentially as a one-way valve toprevent milk, cleaning fluid, or debris from flowing or being forcedinto the teat dip delivery hole. The slit can be molded into the dome orcut after the molding process used to manufacture the dome. The inletmay also be a simple hole with the supply tube blocked at times toprevent vacuum leakage or backflow of fluids. This hole or port can thenbe cleaned each time the dipping process takes place.

The flow diverters in accordance with the present invention can also beutilized to simplify teat dip delivery tubes that are connected to theliner and/or outer shell. For example, some delivery tubes require anelbow to redirect flow into a radial flow toward the teat. The presentinvention can include ramps for redirecting upward flow into a radiallyinward flow without the need for an elbow.

Other features and embodiments will become apparent in the detaileddescription below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a milker liner in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a milker liner dome chamber inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view of a milker unitliner in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view of a liner for amilker unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a milker unit liner dome chamber inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a liner in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the inside of an alternateembodiment of a liner dome in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inside of an alternate embodiment ofa liner dome in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the inside of an alternate embodiment ofa liner dome in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the inside top of a liner dome inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, there is depicted a milker unit liner 20 in accordance withthe present invention. The liner 20 includes a dome 22, a skirt 24, abarrel 26, and a delivery channel 28. The skirt 24 extends downward fromthe dome 22 and is spaced away from the barrel 26 to define a recess 27.

The liner 20 is sized and shaped to fit into a conventional outer shellor “teat cup” (not illustrated) so that the top of the teat cup fits inthe recess 27 between the skirt 24 and the barrel 26. This relationshipsecures the liner 20 to the teat cup and forms a seal for the vacuum.The liner barrel 26 may have any cross-sectional shape including roundand square. Alternatively, a liner can comprise a separate dome andbarrel that are connected to each other directly or indirectly using ateat cup or the other suitable device. The present invention is directedto a dome 22 having an inner surface to which flow diverters are joinedregardless of the type, size, or shape of barrel. The liner 20 can bemade of rubber, silicone, or other suitable materials.

The delivery channel 28 can be formed integrally with the other linercomponents or attached after the liner 20 is formed. The deliverychannel 28 may also be a separate component so long as it is attached tothe liner 20 to act as a conduit for teat dip or cleaning fluids beingintroduced into the dome 300.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a liner dome 300 in accordance withthe present invention, and that is removed from the other linercomponents and inverted to show an inner surface 302. This dome 300includes a teat opening 304, and an annular recess 306 for mating withthe top of a teat cup (not illustrated).

The liner dome 300 further includes a teat dip distribution structurehaving an inlet 366 (see FIG. 3), a first flow diverter which isillustrated in this embodiment as a flow bifurcating vane 312, and asecond flow diverter which is illustrated as a pair of ridges 314. Theinlet 366 is preferably an opening that is the same diameter as thedelivery channel 28, but it can be any size or shape to obtainsatisfactory flow characteristics or simply provide ease ofmanufacturing. The inlet 366 could also include a nozzle in the form ofa slit, for example, that is either molded into the dome 300 duringmanufacture or cut into the dome 300 after molding. A slit shape acts asa one-way valve to inhibit the flow of milk, teat dip 367 (FIG. 3),cleaning fluid, and debris from flowing in the wrong direction throughthe inlet 366.

The inlet 366 can also be a simple opening in the dome 300, and adelivery tube may be used in combination with the inlet 366 so that thedelivery tube defines the flow characteristics or a valve and the inlet366 simply provides an opening through which teat dip passes into thedome 300. Regardless of its shape or size, the inlet 366 is preferablyjoined to the dome 22 by being formed integrally in the liner dome 22,but the inlet 366 can be joined to the dome 22 in any other suitablemanner.

The inlet 366 is connected via the delivery channel 28 to a teat dipsource and/or a backflushing source (not illustrated). In this manner,teat dip 367 (FIG. 3) is provided through the inlet 366 under pressurefrom a pump, air pressure or other suitable device. It is preferred thatthe teat dip supply device include a mechanical feed system, such as apiston, for example, but pneumatic delivery can also be used. Themechanical feed system is preferred because it minimizes foaming of teatdip solution in the supply lines that can occur when pressurized air isused. Nonetheless, foaming teat dips can also be used with the presentinvention. A mechanical feed also enables the use of a teat dip dosagedevice that applies a predetermined amount of dip. It is preferred touse a single inlet 366, but multiple inlets could be used.

When entering dome 300 of this embodiment, teat dip flows generallyupward in a direction approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe liner. Teat dip then flows along a flow path defined by a directionthat the inlet is aimed, but which is generally and preferably towardthe dome 300. In other embodiments, the flow path can be oriented in agenerally radially inward direction or in a tangential direction, butwith the flow diverters of the present invention, any inlet orientationcan be used so long as the inlet directs fluid substantially toward atleast one of the flow diverters.

If left to flow directly toward a teat, most of the dip would be appliedto the side of the teat closest to the inlet 366, with some flowpossibly reaching other sides of the teat if the dosage quantity is highenough. It is unlikely in practice that dip would reach all teat sidesand even less likely that teat dip application would be uniform aspreferred.

To redirect the inward and radial flow, the flow bifurcating vane 312 isdisposed adjacent to the inlet 366 and in a flow path defined by theinlet 366. The flow bifurcating vane 312 is shaped to split and redirectthe upward flow from the inlet 366 into a substantially annular flowpath or pattern around the periphery of the dome inner surface 302. Asdepicted, the flow bifurcating vane 312 splits the flow substantiallyevenly in each direction to define a pair of flow paths, but if otherinlets are used or other conditions warrant, the flow could be split inother proportions or simply redirected in a desired flow path.

The inlet 366 preferably defines two ramped and arcuate surfaces 320 onwhich the teat dip flows as it is being redirected. In this embodiment,a raised central portion 322 is used to confine the flow so that teatdip is not flowing directly toward the teat. In alternate embodiments,it is possible to permit some of the flow to be applied directly to theteat without being substantially redirected. In such embodiments, thecentral portion 322 may include openings, slots or ramps through or overwhich teat dip can flow. It is even permissible for some of the dip toflow over the bifurcating vane 312 and directly toward the teat.Further, the arcuate surfaces 320 can be shaped so that teat dip flow isnot directed around the periphery, but instead through a flow pattern orradius that is smaller than the dome chamber's 302 periphery.

The flow ridges 314 preferably have arcuate shapes and contact surfacesthat are joined to the inner surface 302 of the dome 300 and arranged inthe flow path. The flow ridges 314 are shaped and sized to redirect theperipheral teat dip flow inward toward a cow's teat. In a preferredembodiment, the flow ridges 314 have a height dimension that redirectsall the teat dip flowing from the flow bifurcating vane 312. Inalternate embodiments, the height of the flow ridges 314 could bereduced to permit some of the flow to by-pass the flow ridges 314 andflow to the part of the inner surface 302 opposite the flow bifurcatingvane 312 or to other flow diverters (as described below). Further, theflow ridges 314 are depicted as being symmetrical, but they could bedifferent sizes, shapes, positions, or orientations to provideasymmetric flow, if desired.

Most types of teat dip that would be flowing through the dome 300 havean inherent surface tension that helps establish a desired flowcharacteristic by remaining adjacent to the dome 300 surface and to thecow's teat so that the dip will cover areas of the teat that are not inthe direct flow path defined by the flow diverters.

The flow diverters of the present invention are joined to the innersurface of the dome by being molded integrally with the dome, or theymay be joined to the inner surface of the dome with glue or any othersuitable means.

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention illustratinga cross-section of an upper portion of a liner 350 having a dome 352, abarrel 354, and a teat opening 356. A teat delivery channel 360 isformed integrally with the dome 352. A hose, pipe, or tube (notillustrated) can be joined to the delivery channel 360 as a conduitbetween a source of teat dip and the delivery tube 360, as describedabove.

The delivery channel 360 has at its upper end an inlet 366 that may bethe same diameter of the delivery channel 360 or in the form of a nozzleor slit that is either molded into the liner 350 or cut after the liner350 is molded. A slit inlet 366 is biased toward a closed position andwill close when no pressurized teat dip is flowing up through thedelivery channel 360, yet it is flexible enough to permit passage ofteat dip when it is fed through the delivery channel 360. As such, theinlet 366 performs as a one-way valve in the way of a more intricatelyformed “duck-billed” valve. Other inlet shapes and styles can be used inall the embodiments of the present invention, including openings of thesame or larger diameter of the delivery channel 360.

The inlet 366 feeds a first flow diverter that in this embodiment is apair of diverging channels 368 adjacent to the inlet 366 that redirectthe flow of teat dip around the teat opening 356. The channels 368 areformed in a preferred shape as illustrated, but other shapes andorientations are possible within the scope of this invention. Indeed,the particular number of channels 368, their shape, orientation, anddepth can vary depending upon teat dip viscosity, flow velocity, andflow volume, for example.

The channels 368 being open also aid in backflushing and cleaning of themilk liner 350 periodically or prior to another cow being milked.Nonetheless, closed flow diverters can be used in the present invention.In addition, other flow diverters can be used in combination with thechannels 368 to provide substantially uniform distribution of teat dip.

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of a liner 370 having a dome 372, a barrel374, a teat opening 376, a delivery channel 380, an inlet 386, and aflow diverter in the form of channels 388. The primary differencebetween this and the FIG. 3 embodiment is the shape, depth, andorientation of the channels 388, which in this embodiment provide adifferent teat dip flow pattern. The channels 388 are fed by a firstchannel 389 to form an essentially y-shaped combination of channels.Again, the inlet 386 in this and all other embodiments of the presentinvention, provides an opening into the dome 372 and need not affect theflow characteristics or direction of teat dip.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate yet another liner dome 500 embodiment inaccordance with the present invention having an inner surface 502, aradially inwardly directed inlet 504 fed by a delivery channel 505, ateat opening 506, a plurality of flow diverters that are, in thisembodiment, ridges 510, and a flow diverter that is a flow bifurcator512 adjacent to the inlet 504. Each ridge 510 is spaced apart from theinlet 504 and from each other to form a flow path that is substantiallyhelical in shape and originates from the inlet 504 and terminates aroundthe teat opening 506. Teat dip flows upward and through a bend or elbowin the delivery channel 505 to the radially directed inlet 504, towardthe flow bifurcator 512, and against the ridges 510 to establishsubstantially uniformly coat a teat.

The ridges 510 can be of other shapes and heights to ensure uniform teatdip coverage for a given teat dip viscosity, for example. In addition,the ridges 510 are segmented or shorter than a complete helix so thatthe liner domes and openings are more flexible and conforming to a teat.

The flow bifurcator 512 includes a central divider 514 and two ridges516 that are spaced apart from the central divider 514. The insidesurface 502 of the dome 500 is concave and the flow diverters 510 andflow bifurcator 512 may extend at different angles depending upon theirrespective radial positions inside the dome surface 502.

FIG. 7 illustrates a liner 551 and shell 561 assembly, with the linerincluding a barrel 528 and an alternate embodiment of a dome 550 havingan inner surface 552, a delivery channel 555, an upwardly directed inlet554, and a plurality of flow diverters in the form of a flow bifurcator564 and a number of ridges 560. The flow path in this embodiment isupward from the delivery channel 555, through the inlet 554, and intothe dome 550. Once in the dome 550, the flow is diverted by the flowbifurcator 564 and against the ridges 560. The flow continues throughthe dome 550 and around the teat opening 506, for more uniform coverageof an animal teat disposed in the liner.

This embodiment is somewhat easier to manufacture because the deliverychannel 555 and inlet 554 are both directed upwardly. No elbows or bendsare necessary in the delivery tube 555 because the flow is directedupwardly in a longitudinal flow path parallel to the liner barrel andonto a flow diverter 564 that is shaped to redirect the flow radiallyinwardly toward the ridges 510. Alternatively, as stated above, theinlet 554 can be directed radially inwardly or tangentially. Again, anysize or orientation of an inlet can be used so long as it provides anopening for teat dip.

When the delivery channel 555 is disposed inside the shell it isdesirable to position the delivery channel 555 where it will be spacedapart from the barrel 528. This is so that the liner 551 does notcontact the inside of a shell, or inner delivery channel. Doing so couldcause premature liner failure. The liner barrel 528 illustrated in FIG.7 is triangular shaped when viewed in cross-section from the top. Othershapes such as round or square can also be used. A triangular or squarebarrel should be located in the shell so that it will not have contactwith the delivery channel. This can also be achieved with round linersby sizing the diameter of the liner to not contact the delivery channelor by slightly modifying the barrel geometry, either with small ribs orwith slight variances in wall thickness, forcing the liner to collapsein a defined plane.

Such an arrangement can also be seen in the alternative dome 600 of FIG.8. This dome 600 has an inner surface 602, a teat opening 606, aplurality of flow diverters in the form of ridges 612, and a flowdiverter in the form of a flow bifurcator 614 adjacent to the inlet(inlet not illustrated). The flow bifurcator 614 includes a ramp 620 anda pair of ridges 616. The ramp 620 redirects the upward flow from aninlet (not visible in this figure) and inwardly toward the ridges 612.The ridges 616 cooperate with the ramp 620 to confine the flow anddirect it toward the inside of the ridges 612.

In this embodiment, the flow into the dome 600 begins from an inlet thatis directed generally upward and parallel to a longitudinal axis of theliner (“longitudinal direction”). The delivery channel can be formedintegrally with the barrel of the liner or be a separate deviceconnected to the liner.

FIG. 9 illustrates another alternate dome 700 having an inner surface702, a teat opening 706, a plurality of flow diverters in the form ofridges 712, and another flow diverter in the form of an ramped flowcontroller 714 adjacent to an inlet (not illustrated) that is directedlongitudinally relative to the liner barrel and toward the inner surface702 of the dome 700, as described above. This embodiment uses fewer, butlonger ridges 712 than were described above in relation to the FIGS. 5to 9 embodiments. This embodiment also uses an inlet flow controller 714having a pair of flared ridges 716, a ramp 718, and a flow bifurcator720 that direct incoming teat dip toward the teat opening 706, but witha flow component that is slightly radially outward toward the flowdiverters 712.

The embodiments of FIGS. 5 through 8 that use relatively short ridges,as opposed to a continuous ridge, have the benefit of having less of aninfluence on the shape and flexibility of the dome. Large ridges tend tostiffen the dome, while shorter ridges allow the dome to remain moreflexible, which can be desirable. In addition, cleaning smaller flowridges is easier and they create a smaller “shadow” area in whichcleaning fluid might not reach. Smaller flow ridges also drain easierand retain less dip and cleaning liquids, so they are less likely tocontaminate milk of the next animal to be milked.

Yet another embodiment of a dome 800 in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 10. This embodiment includes an innersurface 802, a teat opening 806, and a plurality of flow diverters inthe form of a bifurcator 810, a pair of channels 811, and ridges 812.The inlet 813 is an upwardly directed inlet similar to the oneillustrated in FIG. 7. The bifurcator 810 is shaped to redirect theupwardly directed (“longitudinal”) flow toward the channels 811 andalong the outer edge of the dome 800 and toward the ridges 812. Theridges 812 redirect the flow inwardly toward the teat opening 806.

In the preferred embodiments, teat dip is distributed around a teat asevenly as possible. To do so, most of the dip should be directedtangentially around the teat. Nonetheless, some of the dip may beallowed to flow over the flow bifurcators or directly to a teat so thatapproximately one-third of the flow reaches the teat directly. Theremaining teat dip (approximately two-thirds of the total amount) isdirected with the various flow diverters to reach the teat sidespositioned away from the inlet. The teat dip flowing tangentially to ateat adheres to the teat surface and flows for nearly uniform coveragedue to surface tension and fluid momentum.

When utilizing the present invention, it is desired that the milker unitremain attached to a teat for a slightly longer period than normal toensure that teat dip is properly applied after milking has ended. Thistime period is relatively brief, but it is desired that a pulsator unitthat is used to apply the vacuum for milking cows also be utilized tokeep the milker unit attached while the teat dip is being applied.

To do so, the pulsator is actuated to collapse the liner barrel aroundthe teat while dip is applied through the dome and flow divertersdescribed above. Collapsing the liner barrel also benefits teat dipapplication and coverage because the teat dip tends to pool around theteat and then be wiped down the length of the teat as the liner andmilker unit are detached from the cow. Thus, the present inventionimproves teat dip coverage on all sides of the teat, as well as, alongthe length of the teat.

Also, by synchronizing teat dip application and milker unit detachment,the milker unit can be supported as it drops from a cow, and is lesslikely to strike the deck on which the cows stand when being milked.

The foregoing detailed description of the invention is provided forclearness of understanding only and no undue limitations therefromshould be read into the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A milker unit liner comprising: a barrel;and a dome joined to the barrel, and the dome comprises: an upper innersurface defining a teat opening; a flow diverter joined to the upperinner surface of the dome, and the flow diverter includes a ridgeextending generally downward and away from the upper inner surface to atleast partially define an open teat dip flow path along the upper innersurface of the dome while the milker unit liner is generally upright andattached to a dairy animal teat, and the open teat dip flow path atleast partially surrounds the teat opening to direct teat dip to a teatextending through the teat opening; a teat dip inlet to the domedirected to the flow diverter to direct teat dip flow into contact withthe flow diverter; and a delivery channel extending substantiallyparallel to a longitudinal axis of the barrel and in fluid communicationwith the teat dip inlet.
 2. The milker unit liner dome of claim 1,wherein the flow diverter has an end adjacent to the teat dip inlet andan end that is spaced apart from the teat dip inlet.
 3. The milker unitliner dome of claim 1, wherein the flow diverter includes an arcuateflow contact surface.
 4. The milker unit liner dome of claim 1, whereinthe teat dip inlet is a slot.
 5. The milker unit liner dome of claim 1,wherein the teat dip inlet comprises a one-way valve.
 6. The milker unitliner dome of claim 1, and further comprising a second flow diverterincluding a ridge joined to the upper inner surface of the dome and thesecond flow diverter at least partially defines the open teat dip flowpath along the upper inner surface of the dome.
 7. The milker unit linerof claim 1, wherein the flow diverter is shaped to redirect teat dipflow from a substantially upward and longitudinal direction relativeinto the barrel to a flow pattern against the upper inner surface of thedome.
 8. The milker unit of claim 1, wherein the delivery channel isjoined to an outer surface of the dome.
 9. The milker unit of claim 1,wherein the delivery channel extends between the barrel and an outersurface of the dome.
 10. The milker unit of claim 1, wherein thedelivery channel is spaced radially outward from the barrel.